Like thousands of other tri-state area flood victims of Sandy, we returned after a week to an unimaginable wet, funky mess.

Compounding the disaster, under strict doctor's orders, I couldn't pitch in and hardly lift a thing — I had been scheduled for surgery in New York, Tuesday Oct. 30 but the storm interceded. Plus, as a Hudson County Board of Elections poll-worker, I did not want to leave my fellow pollsters in the lurch during such an important election, hence I left our soggy ground-floor art studio and storage for another day.

First, the intrepid lads, Donal and Cory, from our local pub, Northern Soul, helped my mate, Ann, get the ball rolling, moving an enormous amount of furniture, art and boxes.

Then, Saturday, a smiling, chipper group of eight Hoboken volunteers arrived at our door putting in over four hours of help that allowed us to begin seeing light at the end of a tunnel that had previously seemed abysmal!

Our ever grateful thanks go out to you all — Adriane, Alicia, Alison, Alli, Amanda, Ann, Jenn, Pam and Tom — and all the other caring and dedicated citizens selflessly helping the recovery!